Hearts are racing: Danica Patrick, Ricky Stenhouse talk romance

Perhaps it was fitting that media day for this Speedweeks took place on Valentine's Day, given the number one topic of the day was the blossoming romance of Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

DINAH VOYLES PULVER AND CHRIS GRAHAMSTAFF WRITERS

Love was definitely in the air at Daytona International Speedway Thursday, with the chief topic of conversation at NASCAR's annual media day the blooming romance between the two contenders for Sprint Cup series Rookie of the Year honors, Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. From what the pair planned to give each other for Valentine's Day to how they'd race against each other on the Speedway and whether they'd share a motorhome, reporters peppered the pair with questions about their relationship. Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Chevrolet, in her first full season in the Sprint Cup series, has long been the subject of intense hordes of reporters during media day. But interest seemed to reach new heights on Thursday and Stenhouse faced a similar crowd during his afternoon question-and-answer session with the media. Stenhouse, driver of the No. 17 Ford, said he's OK with the new attention. “Everything is great,” he said with a smile. “Obviously it is a big story.”He cracked up the media when responding to a question about what attracted him to her: “She's hot.” “I have never had someone that I can talk racing with and I wasn't 100-percent sure how I would like that but I have enjoyed it,” he said. “I think we can learn a lot from each other and be successful.”Patrick, 30, said she couldn't put into words what attracted her romantically to her longtime friend.“We've just always kind of enjoyed being around each other,” said Patrick, who recently filed for divorce. “I think he's really funny. His jokes are really funny."As for their Valentine's gifts to each other, Patrick said she had “a whole bag” of stuff for him and expected to be cooking dinner in one of their motorhomes. For the record, he said, they each still have separate ones.Stenhouse, 25, said he gave her “some fancy playing cards.” “She likes to play cards a lot. She has been teaching me some of her card games and beating me at them so I have to get better,” he said. “I bought some cards so I could practice.”Both drivers insisted the romance will not affect their racing.“I think both of us are just going to race really hard and do what we've always done,” Patrick said. “Running for Rookie of the Year is something that's happening, but it's not going to make you try any harder. I mean, we both try as hard as we can every time."Stenhouse said it's wrong for people to assume it will make any difference. “It's not going to,” said Stenhouse, a two-time champion in NASCAR's Nationwide series moving up to his first full-time ride in the Sprint Cup series. “I am respectful to my teammates and I will be respectful to her, but I am respectful to everyone on the racetrack.“I am out there to put on the best performance I can for my sponsors and my team and my fans,” he said. The two drivers also said they've discussed their romances with their teams, who weren't concerned. “You know, when I told them about the relationship, they had no questions about the racing side of it,” Patrick said of her team owners, Stewart Haas racing. “I think they all trust that both of us are going to do our jobs and do it the way we always have.”Tony Stewart later confirmed to the media that he didn't think the relationship was any big deal. Stenhouse said his team owner, Jack Roush of Roush Fenway Racing, and his sponsors, know he is a “serious racer."He chuckled when asked what would happen if Patrick was beating him consistently. “Well, that wouldn't be good. If we are finishing 1-2 then it would be fine." He also made it clear that if someone wrecks Patrick, he doesn't plan to retaliate. Asked what would happen if he found himself running third on the last lap at the Daytona 500 with a teammate on one side in front of him and Patrick on the other, Stenhouse replied: “At Daytona there is enough room for three, so I am going three wide. That is a good scenario. I hope we win.”

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